PROPOSED GIS FRAMEWORK FOR ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS RELATED CANCER DISEASE IN GREATER CAIRO

In Egypt today, the number of new cancer patients per year is estimated to be 70000. Knowing where a disease began could help determine how it began and so how to stop its spread. The first step in cancer control is identifying where the cancer burden is elevated, which suggests locations where interventions are needed. GIS has a major role to play in all areas of health research, whether this be the description and explanation of spatial variation of disease and illness or the planning and use of health services. Examination of the relationships between the distribution of cancer cases and geo-environmental factors is significant in determining the causes of cancer. The approach aims to explain why certain areas might increase the probability of becoming infected, and to assess the effects of countermeasures and offer data and evidence for policy making by suggesting an integrated framework using GIS. Cancer cases data registered in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010 by the national cancer institute of Cairo were used. Environmental data was acquired from environmental affairs of Egypt. This paper indicated that the biggest number of lung cancer cases was related to air pollution and open air burning, and the biggest number of bladder cancer cases was related to water pollution